Fully funded PhD position in History oriented towards Colonial and Postcolonial Studies

Fully funded PhD position in History oriented towards Colonial and Postcolonial Studies

The Linnaeus University Centre for Concurrences in Colonial and Postcolonial Studies (LNUC Concurrences) is one of six prominent research environments at Linnaeus University and the leading research centre for Global History and Postcolonial Studies in Scandinavia. Research at the Centre focuses on the human consequences of colonialism and other forms of domination, primarily in the context of European imperial expansion from the fifteenth century onwards. By combining global historical and postcolonial theories and methods, the Centre promotes a critical and multifaceted understanding of both the long history of European expansion and its legacies in the contemporary world.

Location and placementThe PhD student will be placed at the Department of Cultural Sciences at Linnaeus University’s campus in Växjö.

The PhD student will be required to be present on campus during regular office hours unless conducting work that requires travel to other destinations (e.g. archival work, conference attendance).

EmploymentEmployment as a doctoral student is limited according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. The total employment period may not be longer than the equivalent postgraduate studies full-time for four years.

Terms and type of employmentThe employment as a PhD student is limited according to chapter 5 § 7 of the Higher Education Ordinance. The total employment period may not be longer than the equivalent full-time postgraduate studies of four years. By agreement, the employment may also include up to 20 per cent other duties at Linnaeus University, for example in the form of teaching, administration or commissions of trust. In that case the employment period will be extended for a period corresponding to the time allocated to such duties, up to a maximum of one year full-time employment.

The successful applicant should be able to take up the position on 1 April 2018 or soon thereafter, according to mutual agreement.

Job descriptionThe PhD student will pursue graduate studies in History with an orientation towards Colonial and Postcolonial Studies corresponding to a maximum of four years of full-time studies and leading to a PhD degree in History. The study cycle consists of research for and writing of the PhD thesis corresponding to three years of full-time study (180 ECTS) and course work, including mandatory and elective courses, corresponding to one year full-time study (60 ECTS). For more information about the PhD program and the requirements for the thesis and coursework, see https://lnu.se/en/education/PhD-studies/history/.

The PhD project must be of relevance for the research orientation of LNUC Concurrences. The exact focus of the PhD thesis will be decided in consultation with the main supervisor. The PhD student will be required to play an active role and take part in the activities organised by Centre, such as seminars, lectures, workshops and collaborative research activities. He or she will be a member of one of the research clusters within LNUC Concurrences, and it is an advantage if the PhD project can be linked to one of the clusters. There are currently three clusters at the centre: the Cluster for Colonial Connections and Comparisons, the Cluster for Nordic Colonialism and the Cluster for the Study of Cultural Encounters (for more information, see the website).

Eligibility requirementsEligible applicants must, by the time of the deadline for the application:- hold a master’s level degree in History or a closely related, historically oriented, discipline (e.g. Area Studies, Economic History, Intellectual History)- have completed the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 ECTS, of which 60 ECTS on second-cycle level, or in other way, in Sweden or abroad, have acquired principally equivalent knowledge- have completed the requirements for courses comprising at least 120 ECTS in History or a very closely related discipline, or in other way, in Sweden or abroad, have acquired principally equivalent knowledge- have completed the requirements for courses of at least 30 ECTS in History or a very closely related discipline on advanced level, including a thesis of at least 15 ECTS, or in other way, in Sweden or abroad, have acquired principally equivalent knowledge- be fluent in speech and writing in English.

Assessment criteriaApplications will be assessed in order to determine the applicant’s ability to benefit from the PhD study program according to the following criteria:1.the scientific quality, originality and relevance to the research orientation of LNUC Concurrences of the applicant’s submitted written work2. the scientific quality, originality, relevance and feasibility of the thesis plan3. the applicant’s ability to contribute to the development of LNUC Concurrences as a dynamic research environment4. references and other qualifications of relevance to the applicant’s ability to benefit from the PhD study program.

ApplicationApplications must contain the following:1. Personal letter of up to a maximum of two pages stating your background and motivation for applying for the position2. CV of up to a maximum of two pages3. Resarch plan of up to a maximum of five pages, including the following heading and information, listed in the following order:

• a title that clearly states what the intended work will be about• an abstract that summarises the research plan (max 10 lines)• purpose and aims, stating the overall purpose and specific goals of the research project• state-of-the-field, summarising briefly the current research frontier within the area covered by the project and stating key references• significance and novelty, describing how the research project will move the current frontlines of the research forward• theoretical framework• research questions• methods and sources• if applicable, ethical considerations• a complete list of references cited in the research plan.

4.The applicant’s master’s thesis in History or a closely related discipline5. If applicable, one or two more samples of the applicant’s academic writing (published or unpublished)6. Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, e.g. TOEFL test results, demonstrating the applicant’s eligibility for the position7. The name and contact details of up to three references that we can contact